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Feb. 14, 192s. 1,659,474

J. H. SIEMAN N 4 LAUNDRY "'AACHINE LOCKING- MEcHANIsM Filed Oct. 29, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet l [3Q A a? INVENTOR wlTNassEs *4 www; l INVENTQR Y 1' Feb.14,192s. 'I 1,659,474

J. H. SIEMANN LAUNDRY MACHINE LOCKING MECHANISM Filed 0612.29, 192

, ATTORNEYS Feb... 14, 1928.' 1,659,474

' l, J. H. slEMANN LAUNDRY MACHINE LOCKING MECHANISM Filed GOT.. 29, -1925 4 Sheets-Sheri?I 3 hm Je T57 lNvENToR ATTORNEYS Feb. 14, 1928. 1,659,474

J. H. siEMANN LAUNDRY MACHINE LCKING MECHANISM cs-Sheet 4 lNvENToR- Jaim H/jywlnawm,

ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 14, 1928.

JOHN HENRY srEMANN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

LAUNDRY-MACHINEi-LOCKING MECHANISM.

Application nled October 29, 1925. Serial No. 65,566.

This invention relates to a laundry machine locking mechanism, and has especial reference to a mechanism for locking a door of an outer cylinder of a laundry machine in a closed position while the machine is in operation and for releasing `the door to be moved to an open-position only when the machine is not in operation.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a laundry machine with certain 'safeguards to the end that an operator will not be able to open the door of the outer cylinder of the n'iachine while the same is in operation to avoifl por-sible injury to the operator7 and wl ch makes it necessz-iry for the operator to cesse the operation of the machine before the door of the outer cylinder of the macl ne n'iay be opened, and to close the door before the machine can be put in oper Another object of the prisent invention to provide an efficient and cli'ectual mechanism especially adapted for a laundry machine known as an extractor for carrying out the results hereinabove inentioncd. l

lith the 'foregoing and other objects in view the invention resides in the particular' provision, relative disposition, and operation of the parts hereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accolnfipianying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 a perspective view of a laundry machine known as an extractor with the present invention incorjliorated therein. i

Fig. 1a is a diagrammatic view showing certain features of the invention.

Fig. Qiis a sectional view taken on the line LY-Q of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fi l is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. Q. and looking in ne direction of the arrows, a portion of the outer cylinder and its door of the extractor being shown.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 4;-4 of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plane view illustrating the drivenelen'ient of the driving mechanism offthe'machine and ,theclutch member which coacts with the driven element, and i the, parts associated with the taken kdriving mechanism i4 in the clutch member which serve for controlling the locking and releasing action of the mechanism.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the means shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the clutch member.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 and showing a modification of the means employed for actuating the obstructor of the mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of the control means of the modification.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic View of the electromagnetic means of the modification.

is before stated thc presentinvention contemplates the locking of a door of an outer cylinder of a laundry machine against movement while the machine is in operation and to require an operator to stop the .machine from operating before such outer door can beopened. `In the present instance the invention is shown embodied in a laundry machine known as an extractor, such as the one shown in Fig. 1,. A machine of the type shown includes an outer cylinder or drum 10 having a cover or door 11 which is hingedly connected as at 12 so as tobe movable from a horizontal closed position to a substantially vertical opened position.. The extractor also includes an inner rotary basket 13 which is driven by a driving mechanism provided for that purpose, the same being generally indicated at 14. The

Viresent instance includes an electric motor 15 which serves for rotating the basket 13 by virtue of the intervention of suitable pulleys and a belt.

The mechanism of the present invention is combined and operates in conjunction with one of the pulleys of the driving mechanism 14, and in the present instance it is one of the idler pulleys 16 which rotates on a fixed shaft 17 supported by a fixed bearing bracket or frame 18. The mechanism of the present invention includes a locking and releasing means, which, in the present instance, includes an arm 19 slightly arcuate and having one end attached as at 20 to the door 11 and the opposite end thereof is freely movable through the walls of a casing 21 when the free end of said arm is not obstructed. The casing 21 may be of any suitable construct-ion and is attached to the cylinder by the use of suitable brackets 22. An obstructor 23 is employed and is pivotally mounted within the casing 21, .the pivotal mounting of the obstructor 23 being effected by virtue of the use of a member 24 attached to the bottom ofthe casing as at 25 and having a portion 26 horizontally disposed which constitutes the pivot for the obstrucopening 30 in the bottom of the casing when the door 11v is moved to an opened position. The free end of the extension 27 has connected thereto, as at 31, one end of a rod 32Y whose opposite end is connected, as at 33, to an arm 34 attached to a member 35 of a friction control means. The friction control means in the 'present instance lbeside the member 35 includes the shaft 17 on which the member 35 is rotatable, friction plates iny the form of pieces of leather 36 attached re spectively to the arcuate portions 37 of the member 35, a `collar 38 .secured to the shaft -17 a spring 39 which encircles a portionof the shaft 17 between the collar 33 and a boss 40 on the member The spring 39 constantly exerts a pressure vto maintain the leather pieces 36 in'frictional engagement with a side plate 41 of the pulley 16. It will now be understood that when the pulley 16 is rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow in the operation of the machine torotate the basket 13, the member 35, due to the frictional engagement of the leather pieces 36 with the plate 41 and the force of the rotary ymotion of the plate 41 on said leather pieces 36, will be moved in the same direction. However, the member 35 will be limited in its movement by virtue of the ends 42v of the portions 37 respectively engaging portions of the frame 18, as shown most clearly in Fig. 6. When the member 35 is in the position shown in Fig. 6 the obstructor 23 will bein an obstructing position, as shown in 2, the door will bein a closed position, and the arm 19 will have its free end obstructed thus preventing the door 11 from being moved to an opened position. A

reversing means in the form of a spring 43 is employed for reversing the movement of the member 35 when the pulley 16 ceases to rotate. One'end of the spring 43 is attached, as at 44, to a portion ofthe member 35 and the opposite end of the spring is attached,

as at 45, to a portion of the frame 18. it

f will, therefore,be understood that when the pulley 16 ceases to rotate, the force of the rotary motion of the plate 41 on the leather pieces 36 will be removed, and as a conse quence the member 35 will be subjected to the influence of the spring 43 to bring the ends 46 of the portions 37 respectively in Contact with portions of the frame 18 to limit the movement of the -1nember`35 in `a direction opposite tothe direction in which it moves with the pulley 16. When the member 35 is moved by the spring 43 the obstructor 23 will be moved to the position shown inV dot and dash lines inl Fig. 2 to a non-obstructing position and, therefore, permitting the door 11 to be moved opened position.

The driving mechanism 14 isv controlledby a switch 50 which is in circuit with the motor 15. ByV closingxthe switch 50 the motor will be started and the basket 13 will be rotated, andby opening the switch 50 the current to the motor will be cutoff to to an cease the rotation of the basket 13 which isy usually brought to a standstill after thecurrent to the motor has been cut otl by the use of suitable brakes. VIn order that the circuit to the motor 15 will be kept open while the i is arranged. within the casing 21 and is attached to the wall 28. A spring is emloyed for moving the vblade 52 to a circuit reaking position7 one end of the spring being attached, as at 56, to the blade 52 and the opposite end of the spring being attached, as at 57, to a bracket 58 attached to the base of the switch 51. .tina-rm 59 is employed for holding the blade 52 in circuit closing position when the door 11 is in a closed position, as shown most clearly in rig. connected as at 60 to the door 11 and the opposite end-of the arm has an angularly disposed portion 61 engageable with the blade 52 and insulated therefrom. It fol* lows, that when the door 11 is moved to an opened position the arm 59 will move with it and, therefore, permit the spring to function to move the blade to a circuit break ing position. Then the door 11 is moved to a closed position the portion 61 will move presented due to the particular driving ectrically connected Lmechanism employed.` Itis to be understood `shown in the form of invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, except in the following respects. The obstructor 23 is operated by an electro-magnet 65, whose magnetizable member 66 carries at the lower end thereof a `plate 67 between which and the obstructor 23 is connected a member 68 so that upon energization of the coil 69 of the electro- `magnet the obstructor 23 will be moved to an obstructing position, as shown in Fig. 8. Vhen the coil of the electro-magnet 65 isdeenergized the member 66 will descend and as a result obstructor 23 will be moved to a non-obstructing position. `The coil 69 is connected inseries with the windings of the electric motor by conductors 70 and 71. A circuit closer`72 is sliunted around the coil 69, and a resistance 73 is connected in the conductor 70; The circuit closer72 includes a flexible contact member 74 which is movable to make and break the shunt circuit. The coil circuit includes a switch 76. When the switch 76 is closed the current will pass into the coil 69 under full pressure and thus energize the same causing the member 66 to move upwardly, and as a consequence the upper end of the member 66 which carries suitable insulation will flex the member 74, as shown in Fig. 8, to break the shunt, circuit. This breaking of the shunt circuit will cause a decreasing pressure to pass through the coil 69 through the resistance 73, thus maintaining the current in the coil at a low pressure and preventing the coil from burning out. The switch 76 includes a blade 77 pivoted as at 78. One end of the blade 77 is acted upon by one end of an extensible spring 7 9 which encircles a fixed member 80. An arm 81 attached to the member 35 encounters the "angularly disposed `end of the blade 77 to move the blade to an open position, and this is accomplished when the member 35a is returned to its normal position upon the cessation of rotation of the pulley 16a. l/Vhen the machine is put in operation by starting the motor, idler pulley 16a starts to rotate causing member 35a to move in the same direction releasing the pressure on blade 77 by arm 8l allowing spring 79 to move blade 77 to close the coil circuit through terminal 82. The electromagnet 65 will then be energized and as a result the obstructor 23 willbe moved to an obstructing position.

l/V-hen the idler pulley 16 oeasesto rotate,

,member 35a will return to its normal position causing-arm 81 to move blade 77 to an opened position, therefore, causing the deenergizationoil the electro-magnet 65, and as aresult obstructor 23a will be moved to a non-obstructing position, allowing cover or door 11 to be opened.

i. In a laundry machine, an outer cylinder having a door, an inner rotary basket. driving mechanism for rotating said basket, said driving mechanismincluding a rotary element; an arm` on said door, means ior guiding the tree end of said arm upon the movement thereof -in response to the movement of the door, an obstructor mounted for movement across the free end ot'v the arm to prevent `the movement of the arm, and means operable in responserto the rotary movement ot said rotary element to move said obstructor across the free endetl the arm to prevent the movement of the door, said means being automatically operable upon the cessation of rotation ot said rotary element to move said obstructor from its position across the tree end of said arm to permit the movement ot the door.

" 2. In amachine ot the class described, an outer cylinder having a hinged cover; an inner rotary. cylinderadriving mechanism for rotating said rotary cylinder, said driving mechanism including a driven element, an electric motor, a switch in circuit with the windings of said electric motor; a friction member, locking and releasing means connected to said friction member, said friction member being responsive to the movenient ot said driven element to actuate ksaid locking and releasing meansv for locking said door'in a closed position, and said locking and releasing means being automatically operable when said driven element ceases to operate for releasing said door to be moved to an open position, and means operable to openl said switch to stop said electric motor to cease the operation of said driven element.

3. In a laundry machine having an outer cylinder having a hingedly connected door, door lockingy and releasing mechanism inA cluding an rarm carried by said door, a pivotallyniounted obstructor capable of being moved to obstructing and non-obstructing positions with respect to said arm, and means tor `eliiecting the pivotal movement of said obstructor to the obstructing and nonobstructing positions. Y

4. In a laundry machine having an outer cylinder having a hingedly connected door, door locking and releasing mechanism including an arm carried by said door, a pivotally mounted obstructor capable of being moved to obstructing and non-obstructing positions with respect to said arm, means for ei'ecting the pivotal movement of said obstructor to the obstructing and non-obstructing Apositions,fand means for backing l l.the obstructor when the @same is in its ob- "members .being turnable in opposite directions and connected to said obstructor and under the frictional influence of the rotatable member while the latter is :rotating causing the member toturn `in one direction'to efect the movement of `the obstructor and to maintain the obstructior in the obstructing position, .and means which operates after the rotatable member ceases to rotate to cause the return movement of the turnable memvber to eiect the movement `of the obstructor to the non-obstructing position.

6. In a'laundry machine having an outer `cylinder having a hingedly connected door, an arm carriedvby said door, an obstructor mounted for movement yto obstructing and -nonfobstructing positions with respect to said arm, `coacting members, one of said members being rotatable, the other of said members being turnable in opposite direc-y tions'and connected to saidobstnuctor and under the frictional influence of the rotatable member While the latter is rotating causing the member to turn in one digection to effect the movement of the obstructor and to maintain the obstructor in the obstructing position, means which operates after .the rotatable member ceases to rotate to cause the return movement of the turnable mem berto elect the movement of the obstructor to thev non-obstructing'position, and means limiting the turning movement of the .turnable member'in both directions. i 7. In a laundry machine having an outer cylinder having a hingedly connected door, an arm carri-ed by said' door, an obstructor mounted for movementrto obstructing and non-obstructing positions with respect to said: arm, a shaft, a pulley rotatable on .said shaft, a member slidable and turnable on said shaft :adapted to coact with a portion of said pulley, a connection between said member and said obstructor, means maintaining .said member in co'acting relationship withv .said portionv of said pulley, the turnable f member being turned in one direction in response to the rotation of said pulley to' ef- Vfeet the movement of the obstructor to an ob structing position, and meanswhich operatesaztter the pulley ceases 'to rotate'to cause the return movement yof the turnable member to eifect'the movement of the obstructor to nonobstructing position. t

8. In a laundry machine having an outer said shaft adapted to coact With a'portion of v said pulley, a connection between said memV ber 'and said obstructor, yieldable means maintaining saidmember `in coacting rela-l tionship with said portion of said pulley, the turnable member being turned in one direc-y tion in response to the rotation/ot saidA pulley to eil'ect the movement of the obstructor to an obstructing position., and meanswhich operates after the pulley ceases to rotate to cause the ieturn movement of theV turnable. member to elif/ect the movement ofthe ob-V structor to Vnon-obstructfng position. 4

El In a llaundry machine having an outer cylinder having a `hingedly connected door, arm carried by said door, an obstructor mounted for movement toobstructing and non-obstructing positions with respect to said arm, a shaft, a pulley rotatable on said shaft, a member slidable and turnable on sad shaft adapted to-coact with a `portion of said pulley, a connection between said member .and said obstructor, means maintaining said member in coaeting relationship with said portion of said pulley, the turnable member being turned` in one direction in responseto the. rotation of mid pulley to elect the movement of the obstructor to an obstructing position, means which operates after the pulley ceases to rota-te to cause vthe return mcvcnient of the turnable member `to effect the'movement of the obstructorto nonobstructionposition, and means limiting the turningmovementof said member. l

JOHN HENRY smMANN. 

